Skype

Skype is a video calling, audio calling and text chat service that works on a variety of computing platforms, including Android. The previously-independent company is now owned and operated by Microsoft, but is still fully supported and functional on non-Microsoft platforms — although since being acquired Skype is no longer usable on Chrome OS as third-party extensions were shut down.

No matter what style of device — phone, tablet or computer — you're using, you can easily communicate with friends and family with Skype over any internet connection, either one-on-one or in a group. You can even communicate with people using Skype to dial non-Skype phone numbers, including having an incoming number for other phones to call and have it ring your Skype app.

There are both free and paid portions of the Skype service. Most users can get by just fine with the free functions — device-to-device audio calling, video calling and text chat are all part of the free service. You can pay per month to have a static phone number that others can call you on from a phone, and you can pay per minute or text message with Skype Credit to call out to other phone numbers using your Skype Account. For frequent callers, there are monthly rates that offer unlimited calls to phone numbers in a specific country or region.

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All Skype

Once upon a time there as a little rumor that Skype was going to shed its exclusivity with Verizon and once again be available to everyone else. Friends, that day has come. Chat and call all you want. It's cool. Free Skype to Skype calls. Call internationally for cheap. IM your friends. One caveat...

We had a bad feeling that when the Skype Mobile app for Android was updated late last night and seemingly allowed calls over Wifi, things were a little too good to be true. And sure enough, they were. At left here is the original description for Version 1.5.0.4, which tells of "Simultaneous Wifi...

Great news for those of you rocking Skype Mobile on Android -- the app has been updated, and you can now make calls over Wifi, in addition to 3G. That means faster speeds, of course, and no more being forced to use Verizon's data, which is slower, costs you money, and was a pretty specious move to...

Fring received a minor update today, which should address many user reported issues, but it appears the feud with Skype is still going strong. Some of the updates include:"Significant" audio improvementsThe echoing is fixed (fixed, fixed)Supports new Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S using...

When last we saw Fring, the VOIP app was touting its popularity after an update to its iPhone client and how it had to "temporarily reduce support to Skype" because of it. Looks like there may be a bit more to this story, however, as this morning Fring took a major backhand to Skype, complaining...

Yeah, so by now Fring users likely have noticed that Skype access has been pulled. And, you guessed it, we have the iPhone to blame. Fring recently updated its iPhone version, which allows cross-platform chatting (see our demo with Rene from TiPB) and sure enough, the gathering horde borked it for...

A Skype PR rep confirmed to SkatterTech today that an Android app is coming to the Android Market, never mind that it's currently exclusive to Verizon. In an e-mail, the rep wrote:"We will be bringing a direct to consumer app to the Android marketplace later this year. This application will be...

For those who are bent out of shape about not being able to get Skype on their T-Mobile or AT&T Nexus One and Backflip phones to make long distance calls, Vonage has come to save the day. Vonage works to make VoIP calls over Wifi or 3G networks. You can either pay per use, or use your monthly...

At long last, you finally can officially use Skype on Android. If you have Verizon. And if you have the Motorola Droid or Devour, or the HTC Droid Eris. Otherwise, you're going to have to slum it like the rest of us.Follow this thread in our forums to see how Skype's faring today. Oh, and it you...

It's almost here! Skype Mobile for Verizon Wireless will become available on March 25th. As in this coming Thursday. As in all Verizon customers with smartphones and data plans will be able to download Skype Mobile and use it to:make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to anyone else...

Fring (Market link), the popular all-encompassing VOIP/chat/Skype/all-things-communications app, just updated its Android application, bringing a new look and new features.High up on everybody's wish list was an honest-to-goodness dialer, and it's there now.The buddy list has been updated and now...

Meet the new Skype, same as the old Skype. Except that this Skype is exclusive on Verizon (and is no longer welcome on Windows Mobile, apparently). But no bother. We've got the Android-powered Motorola Droid, Droid Eris and Devour on Big Red, so there will be plenty of VOIP calling to be had. If...

There are whispers that the first device to introduce the newly formed Skype and Verizon partnership will be the Saygus Vphone. We know the Vphone, it's the device that offered video calling (which would presumably work via Skype now), but we didn't really know Saygus, so we were cautious in...

Skype and Verizon Wireless are embracing one another and taking a step into the future together. Skype and Verizon Wireless just announced that they'll be partnering up to deliver a full Skype experience for Android devices (and Blackberry) on Verizon Wireless. Here's what you'll be able to do...

Nimbuzz, the uber-VOIP app, has been available for Android for a while. But what was sorely missing was Skype support.That day has finally come, my friends. In addition to Skype, it also works with Google, Yahoo and Windows Live Messenger. New options include mute and speakerphone use while on a...

If you haven't heard all the FCC vs Apple/AT&T/Google drama yet, you should head over to the iPhone Blog and catch yourself up with official statements, interrogative questions, and more about why Apple "hasn't approved" (read: banned) the Google Voice application for the iPhone.Though the...

Truphone Anywhere, an app that enables the user to make low-cost international calls and send IMs on a variety of platforms, is now available in the Android Market for Android phones, including the T-Mobile G1. According to the press release from Comunicano, Inc., Truphone Anywhere is now available...

The news that came out from CES 2009 was that Skype would soon be available for Android. The only question left was how soon? The wait was not long because it's available for download right now! So if you're a big Skype user you can go ahead and download Skype Lite in the Android Market right now...

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